SB Audigy 2 ZS Platinum vs SB Live!

[Durzel]

Ive currently got the retail SB Live! soundcard (the one with the Live! drive) and since Im building a new PC I figured maybe it would be a good idea to upgrade the soundcard. I never bothered before because I never had a DVD drive in my PC, but now I do..

I've also got 5.1 speakers in my room - nothing particularly special, just the Cambridge Soundworks DTT3500 set.

Is there any point me getting the Audigy 2 ZS Platinum soundcard?

(Part of the reason Ive thought about getting this is - sadly - because Ive got a black case now, and my white Live! drive would stick out like a sore thumb.. so much so that I've already spraypainted the fascia.. but its not a great solution )

Any thoughts (aside from "you're sad" for spraying the fascia) ?

Edit: Fixed the URL - Xav
Edit 2: Fixed it again - Durzel

 

[kameleon]

http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=14&product=9115

 

[Laroma]

Depends entirely on what you use your PC for. SB Live! is (still) a decent all 'round soundcard for the casual user, but if you're using your PC as your hi-fi system and DVD player as well (like me) a top notch soundcard is a must, and in that case I would definately recommend the upgrade.

Personally I upgraded from a Audigy 1 Platinum card to the Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro, and I totally love it.

 

[Big G]

Having read that, i'm using an SB Live! with the digital daughtercard and i'm finding that a) perfect for games and b) smashing for hifi/home cinema.

I have a dolby digital / DTS external decoder and this is connected via digital coax to the SPDIF out on the SB Live! - i have digital out selected for MP3's, CDs etc and it obviously decodes the appropriate digital signal when watching DVDs and powers the meaty 5.1 Mission setup i have.

Additionally, it has an inbuilt tuner and inputs for practically everything you could imagine. This retails at £210.

The benefit of the Audigy ZS is that if you want to have all the decoding for DTS, DD, EAX 2, support for 6.1 actually on the soundcard and the ability to purchase relatively inexpensive 6.1 speaker packages then the Audigy ZS is for you. If you're like me and you like your hifi seperates then i'm glad i went down the external decoder/amp route than the soundcard route - the decoder gives you much more scope for upgrade and much more power (120w RMS x 5 amps).

my 2ps worth Durz

G